Beginner’s Guide To: Knives

Now that we’ve covered Cutting Boards, it’s time to learn about about their perfect pair: kitchen knives. Slicing, dicing, chopping, and mincing is made easier, faster, and cleaner when you have the right tools. Check out this edition of Beginner’s Guide to figure out which knives are right for you.

What is it?
Everyone knows what a knife is… however, kitchen knives are unique. These cutting tools are used to prep food and since each knife is designed to help you achieve a different task while cooking, they come in many different shapes and sizes. There are bread knives, fillet knives, chef’s knives, carving knives, boning knives, cleaver knives, utility knives, steak knives, and paring knives. This list goes on and on.

I need this if…
This is not an if. You need kitchen knives for any type of cooking activity, but you don’t need all of them. If you’re a top notch chef your needs will be quite different than if you’re the pasta and chicken kind of cook. Your skill, ambitions, and what you cook in your home will determine which ones are must-haves for your newlywed kitchen. Because lets be honest, not all of us will be filleting and deboning fish on our own kitchen counters.

What type is the best for me?
There are some must-have knives for any kitchen, and some that aren’t necessary (but definitely helpful) when doing specific cooking tasks. Here’s the what’s what:

Paring Knife:
This is an essential tool in absolutely any kitchen. The pairing knife is a small, thin knife for fine cuts and easy maneuvering. You will use it for more delicate jobs such as cutting fruit or pealing vegetables.

Chef’s Knife:
Chef’s knives are another must-have kitchen utensil. They can be used for dicing, chopping, mincing, or any other everyday cooking task. This knife will be your favorite go-to when preparing that culinary masterpiece, or a simple weeknight meal of vegetables and chicken.

Bread Knife:
While you can get away without having this knife in your kitchen, it will make your life much easier when it comes to slicing break, cakes, sandwiches, and even meats. While this knife can seem a bit intimidating due to its size and intensily serrated blade, it really does makes otherwise very tough cutting tasks seem like a breeze.

Carving Knives:
If you cook a lot of meat, these knives are for you. Whether you are carving a chicken or can’t get enough of that marinated skirt steak, this long and slim blade will help get the job done while leaving your meat full of juice and without unwanted tears.

Steak Knives
These knives are less about prepping food. Traditionally used at the dinner table, steak knives have much sharper blades than traditional dinner knives, allowing you to easily cut through any type of meat. They are an essential for couples that love to host, or those that are just looking forward to grilling hanger steaks outside during their summer nights.

How Many Do I Registry For?
The number of knives your kitchen needs completely depends on how often you cook and what type of things you typically make. You can either register for each knife individually, or register for full knife sets.
Knife sets will equip you with all the essentials you need in the kitchen. If you order everything separately, we recommend having at least one chef’s knife, one pairing knife, one bread knife, and at least four steak knives for when you have friends over to eat a delicious roast or marinated strip steak.